Promotion officials recently announced that Kurt
Southern will square off with Tom
Gallicchio for the vacant lightweight title at MFC 39 “No
Remorse.” Reigning 155-pound champion Graham
Spencer is expected to be sidelined for several more months
with an injury and will drop to featherweight upon his return.
Additionally, “TUF 17” alum Gilbert
Smith makes his MFC debut against Jason South in
a welterweight tilt.

MFC 39 takes place at the Northlands Expo Centre in Edmonton,
Alberta on Jan. 17. The main card will air on AXS TV beginning at
10 p.m. ET.

Southern has won his last two fights under the MFC banner,
submitting Mukai Maromo
in May before scoring a technical knockout victory over Jonatas
Novaes in October. “The Hurt” has won five of his last six
bouts overall.

A 25-fight veteran, Gallicchio returned to action for the first
time since 2011 in May, when he submitted David
Johnson with a rear-naked choke at a Gladiator Challenge event.
“Da Tank” has earned 11 of his 17 career triumphs by way of
submission.

Since falling to Bubba
McDaniel in his lone Octagon appearance in April, Smith has won
two straight fights, besting Jason Lee and
Donnie
Liles. South, who is dropping from 185 pounds, suffered his
first career defeat in 11 outings against Sam Alvey in a
middleweight title bout at MFC 38.